Vacuum cleaner for shoes



Sept. 19, 1967 E KlRALY VACUUM CLEANER FOR SHOES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2, 1967 ATTORNEY Sept 19, E K R VACUUM CLEANER FOR SHOES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 2, 1967 INVENTOR. EQMEST K/PA LY BY MMZH/ ATToeNEv.

1 33 VACUUM CLEANER FOR SHOES Ernest Kiraly, 643 E. 142nd Stir,

Cleveland, Ohio 44110 Filed Mar. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 620,135 2 Claims. (Cl. 15310) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dual purpose vacuum cleaner adapted to be used to either scrape and brush mud and dirt from shoes, or to be converted for operation as a tank type cleaner for carpeting, draperies, and the like.

This invention relates generally to shoe cleaning apparatus and more particularly to apparatus for removing dirt, dust, mud, and the like, from the bottom of shoes while the shoes remain on the feet of the wearer.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a portable shoe cleaning device combining an up-standing shoe-sole cleaning brush with suction means for collecting and retaining dirt, dust, sand, and mud, removed from the shoe when the sole thereof is moved back and forth across the brush bristles.

Another object is to provide a shoe cleaning device of the type stated, adapted to rest on the floor, with an inclined brush mounting surface that conforms to the natural slope of the foot of the wearer of a shoe when applied thereagainst, while the wearer is in a standing position.

Still another object is to provide such a device, whose brush head has an opening in the throat thereof adapted to receive the end of a flexible hose therein, in a sealed fit, which can be used to vacuum clean the uppers as well as the soles of shoes.

A further object is to provide a shoe sole and upper cleaning device that is an improvement over that disclosed in applicants United States Patent No. 3,030,650, issued to him on Apr. 24, 1962.

Another object is to provide a new and improved shoe cleaning apparatus that is portable, compact, sturdy, and capable of economical manufacture.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference numerals, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the vacuum cleaner for shoes that is the subject of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the same, showing the shoe-upper cleaning hose unit attached thereto;

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 3-3 of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 44 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line and in the direction of the arrows 55 of FIGURE 3; and, FIGURE 6 is a view of a portion of the inner face of the rear wall of the device, at the air exhaust vent.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is seen in FIGURE 1 the vacuum cleaner for shoes, that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 10.

The device comprises a case having a rectangular bottom wall, or base, 11, with rubber feet 50 at each corner, a continuous upwardly projecting peripheral lip 38, and an upstanding baffle wall 28 positioned cross-wise thereof 8 3,341,883 Patented Sept. 19, 196-7 having a semi-circular opening centered in the upper "edge thereof.

A unitary cover having sidewalls 12 and 13, a front wall 15, a rear wall 14 and an inclined top wall 16, seats on the base 11 in engagement with the base lip 38, and is retained in air-sealed engagement therewith by means of threaded mounting screws 39, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 4.

The cover has a baflle plate 27 positioned therein, crosswise thereof, with a semi-circular opening therein which seats against the baffle 28 of the base to define therewith a continuous wall 27-28 with a circular opening 36 therethrough, and which defines within the cover and base, a forward air-suction compartment 26 and a rear air-exhaust compartment 25, as is seen most clearly in FIGURE 3.

In its preferred form the case is molded from a rigid plastic material, but it is to be understood that any suitable material having the required physical properties may be used, such as sheet metal or word.

The case cover has a carrying handle 17 mounted on its top wall 16 and a combination off-on push button 18 is also mounted on the top wall 16, spaced upwardly of the handle 17, which acts to control electric current to the motor unit 20.

Reference numeral 33 indicates a rectangular opening extending cross-wise of the cover top wall 16, at its lower end, which provides entrance into the suction chamber 26. The opening 33 has a seat therearound which serves as a locating and positioning means for retaining the rim 35 of a filter bag 34.

A rectangular brush block 40 having a seat 42 is positioned on the opening seat 33 on top of the filter bag rim 35, and is held thereagainst, in pressed air-tight engagement, by end clamps 41, as is seen most clearly in FIG- URE 5.

The brush block 40 has an inclined throat 44, with a throat opening 45 centered therein which communicates with the interior of the suction bag 34. The brush block 40 also has continuous rows of upstanding bristle tufts 46 surrounding the throat 44 on three sides to define a substantially U-shaped scrubbing brush having side bristle rows 55 and 56, connected by a row of bristles 57 extending cross-wise of the block, downwardly of the throat opening 45, as is seen in FIGURES l and 2.

Reference numeral 58 indicates an opening in the bristle row at the upward side of the throat opening 45.

Reference numeral 60 indicates a rigid, upstanding scraper plate mounted in the brush block immediately ahead of the cross-wise bristle row 57, as in seen most bristle row 57 and scrape firmly attached mud and dirt therefrom in co-operation with the brushing action of the bristles.

The block 40 is bounded by a rimmed groove 43 which acts to catch dirt falling outwardly of the bristles and hold it for suction into the bag 34.

Reference numeral 20 broadly indicates a conventional vacuum cleaner, combination-motor-fan, unit having a housing 21 with a suction intake opening 37 centered therein and a mounting and locating flange 22 therearound.

The motor has a boss 23 mounted on the end opposite the fan housing 21, in axial alignment with the motor shaft.

The motor unit is positioned in the exhaust compart ment 25 with its fan housing projecting through the baffle Wall opening 36 into the suction compartment 26.

A frusto-conical coil spring 24 is seated between the rear end wall 14, at the exhaust opening 29 thereof, and the motor boss, with its large end at the opening and its small end fitted over the motor boss 23. The so positioned spring 24 acts to press the fan housing flange 22 against the battle wall 2728, while at the same time holding the entire unit in spring-pressed suspension within the compartment 25, with the fan suction opening 37 within the compartment 26, as seen in FIGURES 3 and 4.

As an aid in locating the spring 24 properly at the exhaust opening 29, three locating ribs 30, 31 and 32 are provided on the inner face of the rear wall 14, as shown most clearly in FIGURE 6.

In assembling the device the motor unit 20- is positioned within the cover with the spring 24 located by the rear wall ribs 30, 31 and 32, and with the upper half of the fan housing 21 seated in the half-round opening of the baflie wall 27.

The cover is then fitted against the peripheral lip 38 of the base 11, with the lower half of the fan housing 21 seated in the half-round opening of the base baflle wall 28, which together with the cover baffle wall 27 forms a continuous bafile wall 27-28 with the fan housing 21 nested through the opening 36, therethrough. The lgase 11 is then secured to the cover by means of screws Reference numeral 19 indicates a power supply cord which is suitably connected to the motor through switch 18.

The switch 18 is of the type having a single button which alternately opens and closes the motor circuit each time it is depressed.

The so assembled case 16 is placed on the floor, one of the users shod feet placed against the inclined top wall 16, and the toe used to depress the switch button 18. This starts the vacuum motor unit 20. The fan pulls air through the brush throat opening 45, the dirt filter bag 34, into the compartment 26, and exhausts filtered air through the vent 29 of compartment 25, as will be readily understood by reference to FIGURE 3.

To clean the bottom of the shoe it is only necessary to position the shoe sole in the opening 58 between the bristle rows 55 and 56, and then draw the sole back and forth between the rows 55 and 56 and across the scraper blade 60 and the bristle row 57.

The dislodged dirt falls into the brush block throat 44 from which it is sucked through the throat opening 45 into the filter bag 34, where it is retained. If the uppers of the shoes are dirty they may simultaneously vacuum cleaned by inserting the collar 48 of a flexible hose 47, having a suction nozzle 49 at its free end, through the top face of the brush bristles 46 into the throat opening 45 of the brush block 40, as seen in FIGURE 2.

Air will then be drawn through the hose 47 and filter bag 34, which will catch and hold all dirt dislodged by the nozzle 49 as it is brushed over the shoe uppers.

To turn off the motor 20 it is only necessary to again depress the switch button 18- with the shoe toe. The switch button 18 need never be touched by the hands.

Dislodged dirt is prevented from falling on the floor surrounding the unit by the upstanding brush rim 43 which catches peripheral dirt and holds it until sucked through the bristles 46 by the air being pulled through the throat opening 45.

The upward inclination of the housing top wall 16, on which the brush block 40 is mounted, matches the natural inclination of the raised foot, so that it is easy to hold the shoe sole fiat against the upstanding bristles as it is being cleaned, thus, not only assuring complete removal of dirt, but, also assuring that the top surface of the brush bristles will fit squarely against the hole, to provide the maximum suction action.

The ability to plug the collar 48 of the flexible hose 47 directly through the front of the brush block 40, between the bristles, into the throat opening 45, diverts suction from the brush to the shoe-upper cleaning noz.

' ROBERT W- M CHE zle 49 without requiring the presence of any changeover valve, such as necessary heretofore.

This substantially reduces the cost of manufacturing and insures trouble-free operation, since there are no moving valve parts to get out of adjustment.

The nozzle 49' may also be used to clean up the floor around the unit, if some dirt should escape the brush rim 43, fall clear of the machine.

Again, the device can be used as a tank type vacuum cleaner, by using a conventional long flexible hose with suitable nozzles at the free end thereof, such as are used to clean carpeting, draperies, and the like.

Since the brush block 40 is held in place by toggle clamps 41, it may be easily replaced, when worn.

Similarly, access to the filter bag 34, for cleaning or replacement, may be easily had by disengaging the toggle clamps 41 from the brush block 40.

It will now be clear that there has been provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth.

While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense, as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A vacuum cleaner for shoes, comprising in combination, a sheet material housing adapted to be positioned on the floor, having top, bottom, side, front an drear walls; the top wall being inclined upwardly, at an angle, from the front to the rear wall; a baffle wall mounted cross-wise in the housing, between the front and rear walls, to define a forward, suction, compartment and a rear, exhaust, compartment, joined through an opening in the baflle; the top wall having an opening therethrough into the forward compartment and a continuous ledge bounding said opening; a dirt collecting filter bag, having a flanged mouth adapted to seat on the top wall opening ledge and be suspended therefrom in the forward compartment; a brush having a back adapted to seat on top of the filter bag flange, the brush back having a circular throat opening centered therethrough, open to both the atmosphere and the interior of the filter bag; a plurality of upstanding bristle tufts mounted on the brush back, surrounding the throat opening on three sides; the throat opening being adapted to releasably receive the end of a flexible suction hose therein, in suctiontight engagement; clamp means mounted on the housing, engageable with the brush back to draw same firmly down upon the filter bag flange, to seat same in the top wall opening over the mouth of the filter bag; and, suction means mounted in the rear compartment with the intake opening thereof mounted through the baflle wall opening, in sealed connection; the rear wall of the compartment having a vent through which air drawn, by the suction means, from the forward compartment may be exhausted.

2. A vacuum cleaner for shoes, as in claim 1, having an upstanding scraper plate mounted on the brush back immediately adjacent, and extending lengthwise, of the row of bristle tufts disposed cross-wise of the throat opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,757,545 5/1930 Palmer 153l1 2,351,507 6/ 1944 Hallock. 2,885,714 5/1959 Johnson 15-331 3,030,650 4/1962 Kiraly l5310 3,137,023 6/1964- Klinge et a]. 15-310 Primary Examiner. 

1. A VACUUM CLEANER FOR SHOES, COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, A SHEET MATERIAL HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE POSITIONED ON THE FLOOR, HAVING TOP, BOTTOM, SIDE, FRONT AN DREAR WALLS; THE TOP WALL BEING INCLINED UPWARDLY, AT AN ANGLE, FORM THE FRONT TO THE REAR WALL; A BAFFLE WALL MOUNTED CORSS-WISE IN THE HOUSING, BETWEEN THE FRONT AND REAR WALLS, TO DEFINE A FORWARD, SUCTION, COMPARTMENT AND A REAR, EXHAUST, COMPARTMENT, JOINED THROUGH AN OPENING IN THE BAFFLE; THE TOP WALL HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH INTO THE FORWARD COMPARTMENT AND A CONTINUOUS LEDGE BOUNDING SAID OPENING; A DIRT COLLECTING FILTER BAG, HAVING A FLANGED MOUTH ADAPTED TO SEAT ON THE TOP WALL OPENING LEDGE AND BE SUSPENDED THEREFROM IN THE FORWARD COMPARTMENT; A BRUSH HAVING A BACK ADAPTED TO SEAT ON TOP OF THE FILTER BAG FLANGE, THE BRUSH BACK HAVING A CIRCULAR THROAT OPENING CENTERED THERETHROUGH, OPEN TO BOTH THE ATMOSPHERE AND THE INTERIOR OF THE FILTER BAG; A PLURALTIY OF UPSTANDING BRISTLE TUFTS MOUNTED ON THE BRUSH BACK, SURROUNGING THE THROAT OPENING ON THREE SIDES; THE THROAT BEING ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY RECEIVE THE END OF A FLEXIBLE SUCTION HOSE THEREIN, IN SUCTIONTIGHT ENGAGEMENT; CLAMP MEANS MOUNTED ON THE HOUSING, ENGAGEABLE WITH THE BRUSH BACK TO DRAW SAME FIRMLY DOWN UPON THE FILTER BAG FLANGE, TO SEAT SAME IN THE TOP WALL OPENING OVER THE MOUTH OF THE FILTER BAG; AND, SUCTION MEANS MOUNTED IN THE REAR COMPARTMENT WITH THE INTAKE OPENING THEREOF MOUNTED THROUGH THE BAFFLE WALL OPENING, IN SEALED CONNECTION; THE REAR WALL OF THE COMPARTMENT HAVING A VENT THROUGH WHICH AIR DRAWN, BY THE SUCTION MEANS, FORM THE FORWARD COMPARTMENT MAY BE EXHAUSTED. 